President Aliyev Meets Residents of Ashaghi Oratagh, Childiran, Heyvali and Chapar

Aghdara, The Gulf Observer: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on January 13 met with residents of the villages of Ashaghi Oratagh, Childiran, Heyvali and Chapar during his visit to Ashaghi Oratagh village in the Aghdara district.

The residents warmly welcomed the head of state. Addressing the gathering, President Aliyev congratulated the villagers on their resettlement, noting that former internally displaced persons had returned to four villages of the district in recent days. He said the houses in Chapar, Heyvali, Childiran and Ashaghi Oratagh had been fully repaired and restored.

President Aliyev stated that comprehensive monitoring had been carried out over the past two years across all settlements of the liberated Aghdara district, with priority villages identified for restoration. He noted that former internally displaced persons have already returned to nine villages in the district.

The president emphasized that Azerbaijan has fully restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty, marking the end of decades-long displacement. He said Azerbaijanis have returned to their ancestral lands and will live there with dignity, comfort and security, expressing confidence that lasting peace has been achieved due to the strength and unity of the Azerbaijani state and people.

President Aliyev noted that since the 2023 anti-terror operation, life has been restored in Aghdara, Khojaly, Khankendi and Khojavend. He said that over the past five years, resettlement has continued across formerly occupied territories, with around 73,000 people currently living, working or studying in the liberated regions. According to him, essential infrastructure, including electricity, gas, water, roads and employment opportunities, has been established.

During the visit, President Aliyev attended the opening of a hydroelectric power plant with a capacity of nearly 15 megawatts in the village of Gozlukorpu, noting that the region is now fully supplied with electricity, with surplus energy transmitted to other parts of the country. He also highlighted ongoing road construction projects connecting Aghdara to Tartar and Kalbajar.

The head of state also reviewed operations at the Damirli Ore Processing Complex, where nearly 1,000 jobs are expected to be created. He said both the public and private sectors are contributing to employment opportunities, while encouraging residents to engage in agriculture, animal husbandry, beekeeping and fruit cultivation to ensure sustainable livelihoods.

President Aliyev paid tribute to Azerbaijan’s martyrs, stating that their sacrifice made the country’s victory and restoration of territorial integrity possible. He said Azerbaijan achieved a historic and complete victory, reclaiming its lands in a short period while minimizing further loss of life.

Concluding his remarks, President Aliyev congratulated the residents on their return and wished them a happy and prosperous life in their ancestral homeland.